Sweet romance

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[edit] Sweet Romance

Refers to the level of graphic sex in a romance. Pianka listed three levels of sex in romances, but these days, we can list four:

The sweet romance has romantic tension but the h/h do not go farther than kissing. It's considered normal for YA romances and inspirational romances, however some publishers do say they are looking for "wholesome" romances without "sexual tension" without saying "sweet romances." It's the same thing, but without any connotation that the problems should only be minor, as if the reader could not stand anything more tragic than a rained-out picnic. By all means, be dramatic: just don't be spicy.

At one time, all category romances were sweet: the Regency Romance was the last hold-out against graphic and pre-marital sex until the 1990s, and any Georgette Heyer Regency can be considered a pattern of the sweet romance.